Running a 64-bit version of Windows? If so, you can’t have helped but noticed there’s been a lack of native 64-bit support in Google Chrome — until now.

Google has today announced native 64-bit builds of Chrome for Windows 7 and 8, albeit restricted to those running development and Canary channels.

Development Versions

64-bit hasn’t been this cool since March ’97

Sharing the news, Google Software Engineer Will Harris says that the majority of Chrome users already run systems primed for 64-bit applications. By switching to compatible builds these folks will be able to benefit from a ‘faster and more secure browsing experience’.

Harris touts performance improvements of up to 25% in graphics and multimedia content handling, as well as a ‘marked increase in stability’ over the browser’s 32-bit counterpart.

“Crash rates for the renderer process (i.e. web content process) are almost half that of 32-bit Chrome,” he writes.

By being able to leverage the full hardware capabilities of the underlying system, peppier performance gains are to be expected.

Chrome has offered 64-bit builds on Linux since around 2009. Mac users are currently still waiting, despite Apple’s own browser Safari being available in 64-bit since 2009.

Download Google Chrome 64-bit for Windows

Like all development features, Google is first introducing 64-bit support to Chrome on Windows through the developer and Canary channels. Developers are being invited to try the builds for size and offer feedback so that 64-bit support is rock solid by the time it filters on down to the beta and stable channels.

To download Google Chrome 64-bit head over to the respective Canary or Dev download page.

I recommend using the Canary Channel. While a little more raw (read: buggier) than Dev it can safely run alongside a regular, stable version of Chrome — meaning if Canary goes beak-up your settings, bookmarks, etc. will remain unaffected. For more on why Canary is pretty awesome see our earlier article.

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That’s quite surprising to me that Windows never had 64bit builds of Chrome while Linux (and maybe Mac?) have since pretty much day one. Anyone know why there wasn’t before? Given it uses an online installer on Windows that’s something that should be completely transparent to the user.

David Wales

I assume it was just easier to program the linux version thanks to so many common 64 bit libraries.

Heimen Stoffels

No, that’s not the point. ChromeOS = Linux, hence they needed to support 64-bit Linux at first.

David Wales

That’s exactly my point.

Anton Voloshin

No, Mac still has only 32-bit Chrome. That’s why Java doesn’t work, and you have to use Safari for in-browser Java apps.

amnesia

One does not simply use Java.

Killian

One does not simply say that whitout dying
Java is awsome one of the best programming languages

Marek Matys

This… This is just wrong…

MrMiketheripper

C# >> imo
Though they’re very similar syntax wise, I find C# to have better performance with the .NET Framework.

Not hating on Macs or anything (I love Macs tbh).

Killian

nope
jvm has better speeds and is a lot simplier to use to set up and is crossplatform

Heimen Stoffels

Unless the website you really need to use requires Java.

3r0s

Also don’t we forget that Chrome OS is Linux, hence the primary platform Google now develops Chrome seems to be Linux, hence all new features and first served 64 bit are for Linux.
This is just my guess.

Paulo Pavačić

First Chrome build for Linux was in 2009.

Heimen Stoffels

Not all new features are first served for Chrome for Linux. Notification Center is a fine example of a feature available on Win, Mac and ChromeOS, yet still has to make its debut on Chrome for Linux. (not sure if it’s available in Canary, but it isn’t in stable, beta or dev currently)

Stephen Howe

Mac still has no 64bit browser JAVA does not run as the latest Oracle releases are x64 only, which means things like SSL VPN and other archaic services that rely on crappy JAVA either have to switch to Safari or find something else, this is nothing new and so tiresome that a 64bit build is still missing even so many years after Apple went 64bit! I get that its probably not a ‘key’ feature but a quick search shows many people complaining for years over the lack of 64bit support.

Uberjannie

Both Safari and Firefox run in 64-bit Mode on OS X. You can disable it on Safari though, so if you have done that, Java would not work since JRE are 64-bit only on OS X.

Uberjannie

Google said that Chrome would never be 64-Bit on OS X.

Heimen Stoffels

Apparently, they lied because a 64-bit beta for OSX is out now…

Anthony Tumiwa

how to know if the app is really a 64-bit?

Anthony Tumiwa

i just checked task manager, it said 32 bit version Chrome, did u give a wrong url link?

Nice. It worked well on one machine. I got xx_chrome_asan_installer.exe. In another machine I got error message “syzyasan_rtl.dll missing and reinstall the application”. I will try again later on chrome canary webpage to see whether it solves itself.
Thanks
Nellai